Curtain stretcher



F. J. THAYER CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed June 926 grwento'o Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

PATENT" OFFICE.

FLORENCE JENNIE 'I'I-IAYER, OF EDDYVILLE, IOWA.

CURTAIN STRETCHER.

Application 'fiflcd June 17, 1926. Serial No. 116,553.

The invention relates to curtain stretchers and has forits ob ect to provide a device of this character comprising a frame, one end of which frame is provided-with upwardly extending members at either side thereof having a. plurality of upwardly stepped apertures for the reception of a rod and movable members carried by the other end of the frame and provided with a plurality of upwardly stepped recesses for the reception of a rod, which rods are adapted to extend through the ends of a curtain for stretching and drying the same. The stepped relation of the apertures and recesses form means whereby a plurality of curtains may be easily placed on the same stretcher.

A further object is to provide the movable members with downwardly extending U shaped members arching the undersides of the side bars of the frame and which U shaped members are proportioined whereby the adjustable members may be moved upwardly to a position where pins in their undersides will disengage from apertures in the side bars, and one of said U-shaped members will limit the tilting movement of the members when the pins are in the apertures.

A further object is to form the transverse bars of the frame from hmgedly connected sections, the outer ends of which are hingedly connected to the ends of the side bars of the frame thereby allowing the frame to be collapsed intoasmall package. Also to provide means for holding the end bars in right angle relation to the side bars of the frame and the hinged sections in alined positions.

With the aboveand other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective VlEW of the stretcher.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the stretcher.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the side bars of the frame of the curtain stretcher, and hingedly connected at 2 to the side bars 1 adjacent their ends are inwardly extending members 4, which members extend towards each other in alinement and have their inner ends hingedly connected together at 5 on the outer sides of the sections opposite to the hinging points 2'whereby the sections 4 may be forced inwardly when the hooks 6, which are pivotally connected at 7 teens ofthe sections 4, is disengaged from the eyes 8, therefore it will be seen that the frame may be collapsed into a compact package and the bars 1 positioned adjacent each other, which is particularly desirable for shipping or storage purposes, however when the bars 4 are in extended position as shown in Figure 1 with the hooks 6 in the eyes 8, a rigid frame is formed by the engagement of the ends of the bars 4 with the inner sides of the bars 1, which will prevent collapsing of the device.

Extending upwardly from the bars 1 adjacent one end thereof are members 9, which members are provided with a plurality of upwardly stepped apertures 10 through any of which the curtain holding rod 11 is passed, and which rod is passed through the hem 12 of the curtain 13, for rigidly holding one end of the curtain.

Mounted on the upper sides of the bars 1 adjacent the other end of the frame are movable block-s 13, which blocks are provided with a plurality of recesses 14: in their upper sides and which recesses are upwardly stepped in relation toeach other and are in corresponding positions in relation to the apertures 10, and which recesses 14 receive a transversely disposed rod 15 after it is passed through the hem 6 at the other end of the curtain. Rods 11 and 15 are placed in corresponding recesses and apertures, therefore it will be seen by stepping the same in relation to each other that a. plurality of' curtalns may be simultaneously stretched and dried, thereby materially increasing the capacity of the stretcher. Extending downwardly from the forward under side of the blocks 13 are pins 17, which pins are received in any of the plurality of apertures 18 in the upper sides of the bars 1, that is, after the blocks 13 are moved to the proper stretching positions for properly and uniformly stretching .the curtains 12. Extending downwardly from the. blocks 13 and archin the underside-s of the bars 1 are U-shaped members 19, which U-shaped members terminate spaced from the undersides of the bars 1 asuflicient distanceto allow upward movementof the blocks 13 for removing the pins 17 from the'apertures 18 during a block adjusting operation. The outer ends of, the blocks 13 are also provided with U-shaped members 20, which arch the under sides of the bars 1 and allow the suflicient inwafd tilting of the blocks 13 when the pins 17 are" in the apertures 18, and at the same time allow upward tilting of the inner end-s of the blocks 13, during. apin engaging opera- 'tion. It will be noted that during a curtain stretching operation, the contractible force of the curtains will tilt the blocks -13 inwardlytothe positions shown in Figures 1- and 2, thereby insuring a positive engagement of thepins 17 in the apertures: 18.2

easily and quickly moved to different posi-.

tions according to the size of curtains to be stretched. I

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is v A curtain stretcher comprising a rectangular shaped frame having side bars, up-

wardly" extending apertured rod receiving members carried by one end of said bars, up-

wardly extending recessed rod receiving blocks carried by the other ends of the bars,

spaced U shaped members carried by the blocksand arching the under sides of the bars, pins carried by the'inner lower ends of the blocks and cooperating with a plurality.

of apertures in the upper sides of the bars, said U-shaped members forming means for limiting rockable movement of the blocks in vertical longitudinal plane whereby the'pins r may be removed from the apertures in the bars and the adjustable blocks limited in their movement in onedirection under the influence of the contractiblerforce of a cur,-

tain. V

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature. v

FLORENCE JEN IE THAYERV. 

